title: Role of polyethylene glycol in childhood constipation.
abstract: Constipation is a common and chronic problem in children worldwide. Long-term use of laxatives is necessary for successful treatment of chronic constipation. Commonly used laxatives in children include milk of magnesia, lactulose, mineral oil, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Recent studies report the efficacy and safety of PEG for the long-term treatment of constipation in children. Because of its excellent patient acceptance, PEG is being used widely in children for constipation. In this commentary, we review the recently published pediatric literature on the efficacy, safety, and patient acceptance of PEG. We also assess the role of PEG in childhood constipation by comparing it with other laxatives in terms of efficacy, safety, patient acceptance, and cost.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Uma Padhye
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Phatak
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA dinesh.pashankar@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Dinesh S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pashankar
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C000595212:polyethylene glycol 3350